Episode 36: Sept / Oct Editorial Board

About this episode

The episode discusses recent developments in Florida's water and environmental policy with editorial board members.

In this episode of the Florida Specifier Podcast, hosts Ryan Matthews and Brett Cyphers are joined by fellow editorial board members Patrick Gillespie and Jeff Littlejohn for a wide-ranging conversation on the latest developments shaping Florida’s water and environmental policy. The team kicks off by recapping summer conference season, including Environmental Permitting Summer School in Marco Island, and looks ahead to the upcoming legislative committee weeks starting in October. They dive into the impacts of the Florida Legislature’s decision to not fund the Water Quality Improvement Grant for FY 2025 — leaving $2.5 billion in project applications competing for a much smaller pot of available funds. The discussion explores strategies utilities and consultants are using to bridge this “dry spell,” the role of member projects in future budgets, and how property tax debates may influence funding priorities going forward. The group also discusses breaking news on the 11th Circuit’s Alligator Alcatraz decision, highlights from the September–October issue of the Florida Specifier, and key topics like the FWC bear hunt, Everglades restoration, and water management district projects…

People in this episode

Hosts: Ryan Matthews, Brett Cyphers

Guests: Patrick Gillespie, Jeff Littlejohn

Topics covered

• Florida water policy
• environmental policy
• legislative updates
• water quality funding
• Everglades restoration
• bear hunt
• nutrient reduction

Keywords

• water policy
• environmental policy
• Florida Legislature
• funding
• Everglades
• bear hunt
• nutrient reduction
• water quality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Florida Legislature, City of Tallahassee, FWC

Books & works: Florida Specifier

More episodes of Florida Specifier Podcast

• Episode 41: May / June Editorial Board · May 20, 2026 · 27 min
• Episode 40: March / April Editorial Board · April 8, 2026 · 34 min
• Episode 39: Jan / Feb Editorial Board · January 21, 2026 · 24 min
• Episode 38: Nov / Dec Editorial Board · November 19, 2025 · 21 min
• Episode 37: Fireside Chat with Host Alexis Lambert · October 15, 2025 · 37 min
• Episode 35: Adam Blalock, Omar Franco, and Kim Shugar · September 10, 2025 · 55 min